Testing or demonstrating apparatus



Patented Oct. 16, 1928.

UNITED STATESg PATENT OFFICE.

BBYCE HAYNES, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

TESTING on DEivroNsTRATING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 27,

This invention relates to test-ing or demonstrating apparatus and has particular refj fn so far as known, no means has lieretof fore been devised for testing or demonstrating the rolling qualities of spherical object-s and the present invention broadly comprehends an apparatus by means of which the interbalance of such objects may be tested uid demonstrated through their rolling qualities. s

The invention further comprehends an apparatus including a level or horizontal surface provided with a centrally disposedv outlet opening adjacent one of its ends and side outlets extending from a point adjacent said end to a point adjacent its opposite end and upon the transversecenter of the latter end of which means is provided for rolling the objects over the surface, where-by the objects having an accurate rolling quality gravitate from "the surface through thecentraloutlet opening, while the objects having inaccurate rolling quality leave the surface by virtue of the side outlets. j

More specifically the invention comprebends in connection with a device having a testing surface as setforth, a ramp orin- `eline disposed at the transverse center of the end remote from the outlets, upon which the' objects are initially placed and from which they are guided andgravitationally roll on to the center of the'y surface.

As a still further object the invention resides in a mechanism for successively feed- 'ing the objects to tliejtesting surface upon the upper end ofthe ramp or incline at predetermined intervals jaiid distances apart.

' The invention furthermore :comprehends a device of this character, which by slight variation may be made to separate objects having accurate and inaccurate rolling qualities, or for returningall of the objects to the feeding mechanismforrepetition of the testing of the same for use a display or advertising device. j

lOther objects reside in .the comparative simplicity of construction of the apparatus,

4the economy with which the same may be produced and operated and the general etticiency derived therefrom.

jvVith the above recited and otherobj ects in 1327. Serial No. 194,744.

view, reference is had to the following description and accoiiipaiiyingr drawings in which there is exhibitedone 'example or embodiment-'of the invention, while the appeiided claims define the actual scope of the invention.

Iii the drawings- ,Figure lis alongitudinal sectional view through the apparatus, illustrating the same used in the capacity of a demonstrating or advertising device;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view taken approniniatcly on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;v 4 is a view similar to Fig'. l', illustrating the use oit the device for testing and separating the objects;

Fig. is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. v4;

F ig. is a transversesectional View taken approximately on the line '6*6 of Fig;y 4;

Fig. 7`1s-a similar view taken approximately on the line 7-7 of Figfa; Fig. is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view takenapproximately on 'the line 8 8 el rig-.3; i

F ig. is a detail perspective view of one ofthe flights. f

.lrefeiiingto the diawmgs by characters of reference, l0 designates a member or board of substantially elongated rectangular formation which. is supported orconstructed in such a manner as to provide an upper'sur'- face-1l which is level or horizontal. Adjacent one of its ends, which will hereinafter be termed the forward' end, the niember l0 is provided with an outlet opening 1.2 therethrough which affords anvoutlet for objects moving over lthe surface 1l. The opposite sides oit the member vl0 are providerlwith cutaway portions 13 extending from the said forward `end to a point spaced from the opposite or rear end' to provide side outlets.` Suitable means is provided adjacent the rear end of the member l() on the upper surface ll, for guiding` the placement of the "spherical objects 14 at the transverse center of the upper end for rolling over the surfacerll toward the forward yend thereof. If the spherical object rolls true, it is obvious that the same willgravitate `th rough cejiitraloutle't opening 12,'"Wliereas ifthe splieiicalfobject does not possess true or accurate rolling qualities, the same will roll olf `toward either of the ,member l0 and williconsequently.'"gravtate from the surface 11 by virtue of the side outletsy 13, thus eifectually testing the rolling 'the outlets 12 and 13 thereof.

qualities of the objects 14 which are subjected to the test heretofore described. The means for gaging the placement lof the objects 1 4 and which functions at the Sametime for initially imparting to the object theidesired rolling momentum, consists preferably of a ramp 15 which is formed with a longitudinal groove 16fin its upper surface, the said. upper sur,- face being disposed atan inclination in a direction from the rear to the forward end of the member 10.'`

' ln use of the device for displaying or dein oiistrating the testing of the rolling qualities of the objects 14, suchas for advertising purposes, a subterposed member 17 supported or constructed in such a. manner as to provide an inclined upper surface 18, is employed which underlies the member 10 and rThe surface 18 of the member 17 is inclined downwardly from the forward to the rear end of thedevice, and the member 17 is provided with upstanding marginal side flanges 19 from its upperend to a point slightly spaced from its ylower end where the side flanges are formed with inwardly converging portions 2O which merge into parallel relatively closer spaced-portions 2 1 which define a chute'22 of slightly greaterlwidth than the diameter of the objects 14. 1n order to provide means for successively feeding the objects received in the chute on to the ramp 15, an endless conveyor including a belt 23 having flights 24, is trained around vertically spaced guides 25 and 26 preferably in the, nature of flanged drums'or rollers. The lower end of the chute is provided with a central portion 27, which is of lesser width than the diameter of the spherical objects V14 and which is of sufficient width and size to allow for the passage of the flights 24 therethrough. nder this arrangement the lowermost object 14 in the chute -22will be disposed directly in the path of movement of the flights 24, which flights at the point of contact or engagement with the objects 14, are disposed at a slightly upward and outward inclination aswell as having an upper laterally concave facep ln order to provide means for discharging the objects 14 from the flights as they are `disposed in substantial registry with. the uppermost end of the ramp, a slieave 2S is providedfover which one of the conveyor belt leads 23 is trained, to impart turning motion thereto.

The iianges 29V of the sheave peripherally engage the object 14 and roll the same therefrom into the groove V1e on the upper end of the ramp from whenceY it is obvious that the samewill gravitate downwardly and on to i the surface 11 of the member 10. In this ,form ofthe device where it is employed forV display or demonstration purposes, it is obvious'that the vobjects that have'accurate rolling qualities will roll centrally over the sui*- face 11 where they will gravitate through the central opening 12, while those which have inaccurate rolling `qualities will gravtate from the surface 11 byvirtue of the side outlets 13. "The aceur te and inaccurate objects will gravitate on to the upper surface 18 of the lower member 17, from whence they will be conveyed back to the chute and subsequently be picked up, elevated, and discharged by the conveying mechanism. The conveying mechanism may be operated in suit-able manner and for the purpose of illustration a. motorv 30 is shown, the motor shaft 31-offwhich is provided with a worm gear 32 meshing with a worm wheel 33 on a shaft 34 to which the lower guide or roller 25 of the conveyor is keyed. I

` In the use of the invention purely for test-- ing purposes, the only difference resides in substituting for the lower member 17, an inlet trough 35 con'iinunicating with the chute 22, which trough is disposed' laterally from the device for the feeding of the objects 14 to the conveying mechanism. his forni further includes the provision ofk separate receiving troughs and 37 for gravitationally receiving through the end outlet 12 and side separate thev ones with accurate rolling qualities `from the ones with vinaccurate rolling qualities.`

if desired, the device may be covered and concealed by a suitable housing for exposing only the testing surface 11 and its outlets.

lvVhat is claimed is:

1. A device for testing or demonstrating the rolling qualities of spherical objects, comprising a'inember having a horizontal surface provided with a centrally disposed outlet adjacent one of its ends and side outlets extending from a point adjacent said end to a point adjacent its opposite end, means for rolling the objects upon the trans verse center of said latterend toward the outlet end, said means consisting of arainp having an inclined upper surface and disposed the rolling qualities of spherical objects, comprising a member having a horizontal surface provided with a centrallydisposed outlet adjacent one of its ends and side outlets extending from a point adjacent said end to a point adjacent its opposite end, means foi' rolling the objects upon the transverse center of said latter end toward t-he outlet end, said means consisting of a ramp having an in,

elined upper surface vand disposed at the transverse center of one end of the member,

and mechanismV for receiving the objects Uli llif

-from the outlets and successively feeding the same on to the upper endof the ramp, saidy outlet adjacent one of its ends and side outlets extending from a point adjacent said end to a point adjacent its opposite end, means for rolling the objects upon the transverse center of said latter end toward the outlet end, said means consistingV of a ramp having an inclined upper surface and disposed at the transverse center of one end of the member, mechanism for receiving the objects from the outlets and successively Yfeeding the same on to the upper end of the ramp, said mechanism including a conveyor having flights, and means iordischarging the objects from the flights on to the upper end of the ramp.

4. A Vdevice for testing or demonstrating the rolling qualities of spherical objects, comprising a member having a horizontal surface provided with a centrally disposed outlet adjacent one of its ends and side outlets eXtending from a point adjacent said end `to a point adjacent its opposite end, means for rolling the objects upon the transverse center of said latter end toward the outlet end, said means consisting of a ramp having an inclined upper surface and disposed at the transverse center oit one end of the member,

lmechanism for receiving the objects from the outlets and successively feeding the same on to the upper end ofthe ramp, said mechanism including a conveyor having lights, and` means operable by the conveyor means for discharging the objects from the flights on to t-he upper end of the ramp. Y

5. A device for demonstrating the rolling qualities of' spherical objects comprising a putting board having substantially horizontal surface provided With a centrally disposed outlet adjacent one end thereof to rev ceive objects having accurate rolling qualities and side outlets to receive balls having inaccurate rolling qualities, and means associated with the other end of the board for rolling the objects upon the transverse center of the board and towards the opposite end and outlet, and at such a speed that the objects having accurate rolling qualities will be directed into the centrally disposed outlet. A

l BRYCE HAYNES. 

